Optical disc drives are components buyers are least bothered about, when purchasing parts to build a PC, or replace a broken one. The EU's regulators have found something fishy even with companies making these roughly-20€ PC components. According to the European Commission (EC), 13 optical disc drive vendors may have conspired to fix prices of their products on a global scale, and that affects European consumers, as well.

The EC is investigating 13 drive suppliers, and 2 major PC OEMs (pre-built PC vendors), for conducting and participating in what is known as bid rigging scheme, a serious antitrust violation. In bid rigging schemes, the bidders and contractees conspire to rig their prices so that a particular supplier wins the bid. Penalties for such a violation include 10% of worldwide turnover set as fines.

Did y'all know that, at least in Germany, 10.68€ of those 20€ are fees that the "VG Bild" gets? So after taxes and reseller profits, the actual (import) price of the drive is more like 5€ - i don't think that that even qualifies for price fixing accusations.

To the trolls:
Nah, the EU is doing just fine. Except for those few select corrupt southern parts, we others for some reason are obliged to uphold.
Now let's all thank US' beloved & oh so unregulated* economy for this economical crisis.
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Thankyouverymuch!

To the trolls:
Nah, the EU is doing just fine. Except for those few select corrupt southern parts, we others for some reason are obliged to uphold.
Now let's all thank US' beloved & oh so unregulated* economy for this economical crisis.
->
Thankyouverymuch!